Should I File For An Extension Or File Now And Amend Later? Waiting For A W-2C

Filing for an extension is probably your best bet in this situation. While you could file now and amend later, amendments can take a long time to process (often 16+ weeks) and create additional paperwork. With an extension, you'll have until October 15, 2025 to file your completed return. Just remember that an extension gives you more time to file, but not more time to pay. You'll need to estimate and pay what you think you'll owe by the regular April deadline to avoid penalties and interest. Since you believe your tax liability will be about 5% less with the corrected W-2C, you could pay 95% of what your current W-2 indicates you owe when you file for the extension. This approach gives you breathing room to get the correct documents while avoiding the hassle of amending later.

I was in a similar situation last year and found taxr.ai super helpful for figuring out the right approach. I was also missing a corrected form and wasn't sure whether to file now or wait. The site analyzes your specific tax situation and gives personalized guidance. I uploaded my documents to https://taxr.ai and it helped me understand exactly what I needed to do about my missing form. It also explained the pros and cons of filing an extension vs. amending later in my specific situation, which made the decision way easier.

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after posting my question and it was exactly what I needed! I was also dealing with a W-2C situation and wasn't sure what to do about my extension payment. The analysis showed me precisely how to calculate my extension payment while accounting for the expected changes on the W-2C. The document review feature pinpointed exactly what information I was missing and even helped me draft a follow-up email to my employer about the W-2C timeline. Saved me so much stress trying to figure this out on my own. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with missing or incorrect tax forms!

If you keep having trouble getting your W-2C, you might want to try Claimyr. I was waiting on a corrected form from my employer for weeks with no response, then started trying to contact the IRS directly for help, but couldn't get through to anyone. Found https://claimyr.com and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. The agent was able to tell me exactly what to do about the missing W-2C and even put pressure on my employer. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

I have to come back and eat my words. After saying Claimyr seemed like a scam, I was desperate enough to try it because my employer STILL hasn't sent my corrected W-2C and the filing deadline was approaching. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes, and they actually helped me file Form 4852 (substitute for W-2) along with my return since my employer was being non-responsive. The agent also initiated a complaint against my employer for not providing the corrected form. This completely solved my problem - I didn't need to file an extension or wait for the amendment process. The IRS agent walked me through how to properly document everything. I've never had such a productive call with the IRS before.

I went through this exact issue last year. I ended up filing an extension and it was the right choice for me. Amending is a pain and can flag your return for extra scrutiny sometimes. Just make sure you pay enough with your extension to cover what you might owe. The 5% difference you're expecting isn't huge, so if you're expecting a refund anyway, you could just file with what you have. But if you're going to owe money, definitely do the extension and pay a bit extra to be safe.

Another option to consider is contacting your employer directly and asking when they expect to issue the W-2C. Sometimes they have a timeline but don't communicate it well. I've found that a polite but firm email to HR and payroll can work wonders. If they can tell you it'll be ready within a few weeks, maybe waiting makes sense. If they're saying it could be months, then the extension route is probably best.